Meghan Markle’s influencer era has taken another bizarre turn, as she has once again turned to Instagram to channel Princess Diana.
This time, the focal point is a simple purple ribbed sweater—yet not just any sweater. It happens to be a Northwestern University sweatshirt, eerily similar to one Princess Diana famously wore in 1996. Unsurprisingly, Meghan seized the opportunity to remind the world that she, too, attended Northwestern. The Instagram Reel features Meghan strolling through her carefully curated garden, beaming behind oversized sunglasses. Nothing screams "relatable influencer" quite like the wealthy pretending to live an effortlessly carefree life. At one point, a child—perhaps Archie, Lilibet, or even a conveniently borrowed neighbor's kid for authenticity—chimes in with, "Mommy, I can do it if you want me to," while watering plants with a garden hose. Meanwhile, in the background, Harry giggles like a loyal sidekick as Meghan shakes up a citrusy cocktail, because apparently, this is the new definition of productivity.
As always, Meghan’s wardrobe choice appears to be anything but accidental. The Northwestern sweatshirt is nearly identical to the one Diana wore during her visit to the school’s campus in 1995. Now, decades later, Meghan just so happens to be wearing an almost exact replica on camera for the world to see. Since nothing in Meghan’s world seems to be left to chance, speculation quickly arose over whether she had managed to get her hands on Diana’s actual sweater. In reality, it turns out to be a Nordstrom knockoff—one that, incidentally, is still available for purchase. But while royal cosplay might be on the market, Nordstrom reportedly isn’t too thrilled about the association and would prefer to steer clear of the spectacle.
This, of course, leads to the inevitable question: Did Meghan choose to attend Northwestern simply because Diana was once photographed in their branded apparel? The theory may sound extreme, but given Meghan’s apparent fixation on mirroring Diana, nothing seems too far-fetched anymore. Years ago, the idea that an accomplished adult woman would craft her entire persona around a mother-in-law she never even met would have been laughable. Yet here we are, witnessing Meghan borrowing more than just Diana’s son—she’s curating a legacy in her image.
It’s actually quite remarkable in its own way. Despite an acting career that peaked with mid-tier cable television roles and a brief stint as a game show briefcase model, Meghan never quite landed a true leading role. Now, through sheer dedication to performance art, she has secured the starring part in Diana 2.0: The Social Media Years.
And then there’s this influencer debut. If this is supposed to be a grand comeback, it’s astonishingly amateurish. The shaky camera work, the forced aesthetic, the fact that she’s essentially just prancing around in a sweater and giggling at trees—it’s the least polished soft launch in influencer history. Even teenage TikTokers with nothing but a ring light and a lip gloss sponsorship produce more professional content.
But what makes it even more transparent is how blatantly it baits engagement. It’s working, of course—rage clicks are still clicks—but the whole performance feels calculated, unsettling, and exhausting. The strangest part? Meghan seems to be actively inviting the criticism. She appears to thrive on the backlash, as if provoking outrage is her only means of staying relevant. Perhaps she recognizes that her career prospects outside of royal-adjacent drama are slim, leaving her with no choice but to double down on Diana cosplay and online controversy.
The entire spectacle has the energy of a Lifetime movie antagonist, and frankly, it’s a little tragic. The obsession is undeniable, the secondhand embarrassment is overwhelming, and the desperation is off the charts. If Nordstrom knows what’s good for them, they might want to pull that sweater from shelves before this gets even creepier—because at this rate, it wouldn’t be surprising if Meghan’s next move involves stepping into Diana’s iconic revenge dress and orchestrating her own paparazzi chase.
